On 17/9, a school bus in Blair County, Pennsylvania, was taking students home after classes when the driver unexpectedly lost consciousness. The bus began to slowly roll, prompting a swift and coordinated response from the students on board. The video of the incident was released on 28/9.
Initially, some students were disembarking when the bus started to move. For a few seconds, those still on the bus did not understand what was happening, but they quickly grasped the emergency and immediately took action.
Alexis Smith, a 10th-grade student, rushed to press the foot brake while checking the driver's pulse. Smith, initially distracted by her phone, reacted instantly upon recognizing the critical situation.
Leveraging medical and safety knowledge learned at school, the students performed a series of emergency response actions. Jenna Anderson, also a 10th-grade student, immediately called 911. Meanwhile, Skyla Horton, a 12th-grade student, quickly pulled the hand brake and opened the bus door. Her classmate, Travis Zerby, used the onboard radio to transmit a signal requesting assistance.
Smith recounted her experience: "At first, I didn't realize what was happening because I was busy texting. My friend pulled me up and said, 'Quick, check on the driver!'. I thought it would be very difficult if only one person had to manage, because I had to hold the foot brake tightly." The pressure of simultaneously controlling the bus, keeping it stable, and listening to instructions over the radio was significant. "Just that alone was very difficult. Zerby told me to say some coded characters, but I didn't understand what those words meant," Smith added.
Smith's calm and appropriate response to the emergency was aided by her participation in Health and Medical Sciences practical training programs at the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (GACTC).
The bus driver has since recovered, received clearance from health authorities to return to work, and continues to operate the same route. The school administration commended all the students on the bus for their calmness, teamwork, and quick thinking, which ensured everyone's safety.
My Anh (according to WTAJ)
